Tile



L. J. D. HEALY.

- TILE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1921.

1,437,304. Pat nta Nov. 28, 1922.

IV /:z J 19 Patented Nov. 28, 1922..

Continuation of application Serial No. 490,038, filed August 5, 1921.

Serial No. 517,249.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEON J. D. HEALY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and 'State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tile, such as employed for covering a floor or wall.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a resilient interchangeable interlocking tile which will readily adapt itself to the surface to be covered, which is firmly held in place and in which the interlock is concealed.

This ap lication' is a continuation ofapplication erial No. 490,038, filed August 5, 1921.

The views of the drawings are:

covering unit Fig. 2 is a bottom plan thereof; Fig. 3 is a top plan of a section of floor covering made up of interchangeable interlooking units;

may be employed. The particular composition, however, forms no part of the present invention.

The floor covering comprises a flat square resilient tile 1, having in each edge thereof '40 a recess or depression 2 open to the bottom of the tile. The depth of the recesses or depressions is less thanthe thickness of the tile itself.

Each edge of the tile is also provided with a corresponding projection 3 formed there-- on; the thickness of the projection being less than the thickness of the tile and substantially the same as the depth of the recess or depression 2. so The length of the depressions and proj ections are substantially the same, the length of each being substantially one-half that of the tile.

The width of the depressions and projec- TILE.

Fig. 1 is a top plan of the floor or wall the floor or wall.

Ivber 23,

tions are substantially the same. Thus, when the projection of one tile is received within the depression of another unit arranged adjacent thereto, the edges of the units will register and the edge of the projection will fitsnugly within the depression. The bottom' surfaces of the projections and of the floor covering unit are in the same plane,.so thatwhen laid on a floor or wall the bottom surface of the unit and its projections lies flat'thereon. Thus the tile has a lower portionin which the interlocking recesses and projections are formed, and an upper portion which covers the interlockingprojections and recesses. The upper and lower portions have substantially the same area, so that when the tiles are laid-a firm resilient covering without pockets is formed.v The continuous edge of the recess and projection on each side'of the lower-portion of the tile, as illustrated, is substantially sinusoidal or S-shaped.

In order that each tile may be held in place on the floor or wall which it' covers,

nails or screws 4, or other fastening means,

mav extend through the. projections and into After one tile has been securely fastened to the floor or wall, another tile may be arranged alongside thereof so that, the projection thereof enters the recess-or depression of the tile already fastened to the floor, and the projection of the tile already fastened to the floor fits, into the recess or depression of the tile being arranged in place.

Ordinary when laying the tiles on the wall or floor fastening means are provided for only two of the, projections of each tile, as the other two'projections of the tile being arranged in place must be inserted in corresponding recessesor depressions of adjacent tiles already laid and fastened.

Thus, whenlaying the tiles from left to right, no fastening means would be provided for the projections on the left and upper edges, while if laying the tiles from right to left, no fastening means would be provided for the projections on the right and upper edges of the tile, assuming that the upper projection is inserted within the recess or de ression of one of the tiles of a layer alrea y laid.

As the floor or wall covering tile are being laid, the edges of adjacent tiles may be cemented together so as to prevent water or other liquid finding its way down through any cracks between adjacent tiles and under the floor covering.

Figure 3 shows a section of floor or wall covering made up of tiles like those shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It will be noted that the exposed surface of the floor covering units entirely covers the projections and cooperating recesses which form the interlocking means for the floor or wall covering units. v

Therefore, the surface of the floor covering which is exposed is free from any projections by means of which there might be a tendency for the tile to be displaced.

While the drawings show the tiles as having plain upper surfaces, any desired form of raised or depressed design might be provided therefor.

The depressions 2 are of equal size and the projections are of equal size, each projection being adapted to fit the depression of any tile.

Thus, when laying the floor or wall covering units any of the edges of any tile may be placed adjacent the edges of the tiles already laid. Thus the time and expense of laying the floor covering is reduced.

By providing on each edge a projection extending for substantially half the length of the edge and forming a complemental depression extending throughout the other half, an interchangeable interlocking tile is obtained, wherein the interlocking means ex-v tends substantially the entire distance of the periphery of the tile. The shape of the projections is such that the projections of a tile being laid may be inserted readily into the depressions of the tiles already fastened to a surface being covered thereby.

Such H interlocking means extending throughout the periphery of the tile insures that each tile will be held more firmly against the surface covered thereby.

Any tendency for the tiles to buckle or warp is thus reduced.

The invention contained herein is of course susceptible of other embodiments and adaptations.

The invention claimed is:

1. A flat resilient tile having an upper portion whose straight edges are substantially normal to the surface thereof, and a lower portion provided with projections on the sides thereof and recesses therein for receiving the projection of adjoiningtiles, the upper and lower portions being of substantially the same area.

2. A flat resilient tile having an upper portion whose straight edges are substantially normal to the surface thereof, and a lower portion provided with a projection on each side thereof extending substantially one half the len h thereof and a complemental recess in eac side occupying the remainder of the length thereof, the recesses being adapted to receive the projections of adjoining tiles whereby such projections are entilrely covered by the upper portion of the ti 6.

3. A flat resilient tile having an upper portion whose straight edges are substantially normal to the surface thereof, and a lower portion having throughout the length of each side thereof a substantially sinusoidal edge one lobe of which is located under the upper tile portion and forms a recess and the other lobebeing located beyond the boundary of upper tile portion and forming a projection to fit within a recess of an adjoining -tile.'

4. A flat resilient tile having a square upper portion whose edges are substantially normal to the surface thereof, and a lower portion having along each side thereof an S-shaped edge one lobe of which is located under the upper tile portion and forms a recess and the other lobe being located outside the boundary of the upper tile portion .and forming a projection to fit within a recess of an adjoining tile, the upper and lower portions being of substantially the same area.

- 5. A.flat resilient tile having an upper portion whose straight edges are substantially normal to the surface thereof, and a lower. portion provided with projections on the sides thereof and complemental recesses therein for receiving the projections of ad joining tiles, the projections-being adapted -to have means extended therethrough to fasten the tile to a surface to be covered the projections and fastening means.

thereby, being covered by the upper portions of adjoining tiles. i

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LEON J. D. HEALY. 

